The heads of Australia's federal police and domestic spy agency have roundly rejected Pauline Hanson's suggestion that Middle Eastern refugees are to blame for terrorism.
They say there is no evidence to support the One Nation leader's suggestion that refugees are more likely to be lured by groups like the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
Instead, they blame what they call a violent interpretation of Sunni Islam.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she was "gobsmacked" when the head of ASIO told her there was no link between refugees and terrorism.
But ASIO chief Duncan Lewis has now reiterated his point, with support from Australian Federal Police commissioner Mark Colvin.
Mr Lewis has told the ABC there is a common thread but it is about religious ideology, not refugees.
"That is the issue that I'm trying to make very clear. In all of those cases, they were not terrorists because they were refugees. They were terrorists because of this warped, violent, extremist interpretation of Sunni Islam. It is Sunni Islamic extremism."
ASIO says 11 of the 12 planned alleged terrorism attacks foiled in Australia since late 2014 were being planned by what he calls "radical Sunni Muslims."
He says the other one was what he calls a "right-wing extremist" with no connection to Islam.
Mark Colvin, with the federal police, says he agrees with his ASIO counterpart.
"As I've already said, and as others have said as well, we are dealing with a radical interpretation of Sunni Islam. So that is our biggest priority, that is our biggest threat."
And Commissioner Colvin says those caught planning such attacks are usually not new arrivals.
"The majority of persons of interests that come across my officers' desks are first- and second-generation Australians. These are people who've been born, educated and raised in Australia."
Former prime minister Tony Abbott and well-known columnist Andrew Bolt have joined Pauline Hanson in criticising the rejection of a link between refugees and terrorism.
They point out refugees or their children carried out several of the attacks in recent years.
But Labor leader Bill Shorten has defended Mr Lewis's position.
"Duncan Lewis is a respected security expert. The point that he's making (is) that, rather than focus on demonising refugees, instead, understand there are strands of radical and militant Islam causing the problem."
The controversy comes as Labor mounts pressure on the Government to reconsider sending dozens of Coptic Christian asylum seekers back to Egypt.
The country has recently suffered a wave of terrorist attacks on Coptic Christians.
But a group of around 20 families are facing deportation from Australia after their asylum claims failed.
Labor and the Christian lobby are asking for a review, arguing the situation in Egypt has deteriorated since the claims were assessed.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says each case will be considered on its merits.
"That's a matter for the Minister for Immigration to consider, whether there are any cases that require review. They are considered on a case-by-case basis, and I'm confident that the Minister for Immigration will make the right decisions."
